1997 Honda Valkyrie

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HONDA VALKYRIE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TIRE AND STATED THAT THE REAR SPLINE WAS DETERIORATING ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH PREVENTED IT FROM RETAINING LUBE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE AT 60,000 MILES. AT 87,000 MILES, THE CONTACT REPLACED THE REAR END ONCE AGAIN AT 98,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 104,000 MILES AND IS BEGINNING TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST AND STATED THAT ALL THE REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 09/24/08. *LJ THE FINAL DRIVE DOESN'T HOLD A LUBE. UPDATED 09/26/08. *JB

MOTORCYCLE FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A LEAK DUE TO INTERNAL DEFECT IN TANK. DT

I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN ON A WET STREET. A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I APPLIED THE FOOT BRAKE (REAR BRAKE) HARD. I DID NOT APPLY THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER AT ALL. THE FRONT WHEEL LOCKED-UP AND THE MOTORCYCLE IMEDIATELY WENT DOWN. I BELIEVE IT IS A DESIGN FLAW FOR A FRONT WHEEL TO LOCK-UP WHEN A RIDER DOES NOT APPLY THE FRONT BRAKE. A MOTORCYCLE CAN BE HANDLED WITH THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED, BUT A MOTORCYCLE WILL GO DOWN IF THE FRONT WHEEL LOCKS. IN MY OPINION, THE LINKED BRAKE SYSTEM IS VERY DANGEROUS.

MOTORCYCLE DISPLAYS (GAUGES) ARE POORLY LIT. BACKLIGHT ILLUMINATION IS VISIBLE IN NEAR OR TOTAL DARKNESS, BUT AT TIMES OF DIM LIGHT, SUCH AS FOUND DURING DAWN OR DUSK, THE TACHOMETER/ODOMETER/SPEEDOMETER ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO READ DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BACK LIGHT AND REFLECTED LIGHT ON THE METER ARE EQUAL. *AK

SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER POORLY DESIGNED; AT DUSK/DAWN FACE IS NOT READABLE. *AK

THE TACHOMETER/SPEEDOMETER GAUGES ON THE HONDA F6 VALKYRIE ARE HARD TO READ EVEN IN DAYLIGHT DUE TO THE COLOR AND THE STYLE OF THE LETTERING ON THEM. AT NIGHT, IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THEM. THIS CONDITION PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD, IN THAT IF THE RIDER ATTEMPTS TO READ THE GAUGES, HIS ATTENTION IS DIVERTED FROM THE ROADWAY. *AK

THE INSTRUMENTS ARE UNREADABLE DURING DUSK/DAWN CONDITIONS DUE TO A FAULTY LIGHTING CONDITION. *AK

CANNOT SEE INSTRUMENTS AT DUSK OR EARLY MORNING. IT WAS THIS WAY FROM THE FACTORY. *AK

THE NUMBERS ON THE SPEEDOMETER CANNOT BE SEEN AT DUSK OR ERLY DOWN DUE TO POOR LIGHTING OF INSTRUMENT. *AK

SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER CHANGE COLORS WHEN BACKLIT. AT DAWN AND DUSK WHEN AMBIENT LIGHT IS EQUAL TO THE BACK LIGHT, THE NUMBER CHANGE FROM BLACK TO A FLOURESCENT GREEN. *AK

THE FACES OF THE SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT DAWN AND DUSK. *AK

THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO READ AT TIMES OF LOW LIGHT. *AK

INSTRUMENT LIGHTING IS TOO DIM/UNEVEN. AS A RESULT, SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER ARE UNREADABLE IN LOW AMBIENT LIGHT CONDITIONS, SUCH AS TWIGHLIGHT AT DAWN/DUSK AND RAINY WEATHER. RIDER NEEDS TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME TO READ HIS SPEED AND ENGINE RPMS INSTEAD OF PAYING ATTENTION TO ROADWAY AND ENVIRONMENT. *AK

PASSENGER'S FOOT PEG NOT THREADED PROPERLY.